The Gorgeous Hussy

Gentlemen.

The Senator for Massachusetts, Mr Daniel Webster has the floor.

This dangerous and destructive doctrine ..

Dignified by the name 'State's Rights' is not new to us, gentlemen.

Shall any single state deny within its boundaries ..

A Federal law designed for the good of an entire Union?

I say never.

But the Senator from Virginia ..

Claims his sovereign state will not swallow distasteful laws ..

Hatched by the bluenoses of Massachusetts and Connecticut.

I don't think I said quite that, Dan.

Perhaps I put it better than you did.

But the point is ..

Will Virginia abide by the constitution or not?

I recognise Senator Randolph.

Thank you, Mr President.

The constitution. Is it holy writ?

Let me tell you that the state of Virginia ..

Will not submit to any violations of our sovereign rights.

Be it an unfair tax on tobacco, an illegal tariff ..

Or any other ill-conceived and ruinous law.

Perhaps he will defy the federal government by force?

Virginia profoundly hopes that will never become necessary, sir.

Virginia.

You are first a Virginian, John Randolph of Roanoke.

And second, an American.

I am a better American because I am first a Virginian, Mr Yankee Webster.

I thought we did very well in the senate today, John.

Yes, Dan. I must admit you were in very good voice.

Although you made no more sense than usual.

Nevertheless, I repeat ..

That's just the trouble, Dan. You always repeat.

John. You and Calhoun are at the bottom of this.

Yes. This treasonable business.

Logic is not treason, Dan.

Come on. It's time for my constitutional before dinner.

Constitutional? I am surprised you would even use the word.

What-ho, my old lad.

I say. A blooming prince, as I live.

Major, shake hands with Professor Leroy Sunderland.

My own blood cousin, I'm proud to have you know.

Welcome, Professor. Welcome to our humble inn.

I'm delighted, sir, to find a welcome in such a charming haven of tranquillity.

Sounds like a ruddy lark.

Allow me to introduce myself, Major.

Lieutenant Bow Timberlake of the US Navy.

Known and adored by women of all nations.

And willing to accept board and lodging for a nominal sum.

If any at all.

This way to the taproom, gentlemen. - Yes. Thank you.

Come, Professor. We'll all drink with you. In fact, on you.

What? You won't even drink to the memory of an Algerian muscle dancer?

I need no false stimulus to quicken my inspiration.

Nature is too gracious a benefactor to ..

But nature is not a magician.

Why didn't say we had company, father?

Gentlemen, my daughter Peg.

Professor Sunderland. - How do you do.

Lieutenant Timberlake. - How do you do, sir.

Better, thanks. Much better.

A pleasant ending to a rather unpleasant journey, Miss O'Neale.

We do hope you will be comfortable, gentlemen.

Well, Miss Peggy. Have you shaped any new political doctrines today?

Mr Webster, I am nothing but an impressionable young woman.

My dear, you should have been born a man.

Oh no, Mr Webster.

Oh no, Mr Webster.

Senator Daniel Webster. Lieutenant Timberlake.

Both defenders of the constitution.

And you swore an oath on it, young man. Don't forget that.

Yes, sir.

They are pretty buttons. Are they real gold?

Solid gold. From the mines of King Solomon.

Yours for the asking.

No. You needn't ask. I'll cut them off and string them for you.

Tonight.

Yes, Major. An interesting head, your daughter.

Graceful, intelligent. - And level.

I should place your cranium in the Franz Bellum class.

A tender friend. A dangerous enemy.

You know, I may find your future for you amid the mysteries of the stars tonight.

If .. if the moon is full.

What day of the month is this, Professor?

A dark sailor will enter your life.

Almost immediately.

Gentlemen, I regret this is the evening I always make out the accounts.

And tomorrow night .. there is no moon.

John, I want to talk to you.

Oh Dan, let's not have any more flag waving.

Very well. But I warn you the stars and stripes remains the symbol of the Union.

Not a pocket handkerchief for you Virginians or anybody else.

Listen to me, Dan.

If this Union of yours is going to destroy the rights ..

Of the sovereign state of Virginia then I say let's have done with the Union.

John Randolph. That is treason.

If it weren't for the Union there would be no states.

Tell me. These senators and such.

They discuss quite a few confidential matters with the young lady, don't they.

So what if they do?

Well, she might be a useful little person for me to know.

Listen to me, my fine, feathered rogue.

We'll have none of your underhanded bribery and corruption around here.

We won't. We won't. - Shush.

Talk like that and you won't stay here. - Margaret.

Don't 'Margaret' me. I know what I say. - No you don't. You're not old enough.

You wait until Andy Jackson gets here.

He'll settle you and your 'State's Rights'.

Andrew Jackson will be the first to agree with me.

He will, will he?

Very well then. You can count me as the last.

I had no idea politics could be so exciting, gentlemen.

Lieutenant Timberlake of The Constitution.

This is Senator Randolph of Virginia.

How do you do, sir. - How do you do. Have a drink.

Of Senator Webster's New England rum.

Smuggled from Jamaica before Massachusetts was a state.

Well, even a sailor should be able to feel that.

Are you going to be with us long, Lieutenant?

Well, I hadn't intended to, but ..

I find it strangely interesting.

You mean Margaret?

A curious girl.

Or a woman. I rarely know which.

I sometimes think she knows more about politics than I do.

Certainly more than ..

You're forgetting her best points, aren't you?

No. I'm not forgetting anything. It seems to me you are.

No.

No. I have an eye trained for opportunities like this.

A lonely sailor. A pretty little tavern girl. A moonlit night.

There's really not ..

Gentlemen.

What the devil did I say?

You said ..

Just like you, John. You strike before you think.

I'm sorry, Lieutenant.

You didn't say anything really.

I suppose I can't get over thinking of Margaret as a little girl in pigtails.

I forget sometimes that others may look at it differently.

From now on I'm not going to look at her at all.

Don't say that. She'll scratch my eyes out.

I am very sorry.

Will you drink? - Thank you.

To Miss O'Neale, sir.

In whom I am more interested in than ever.

Now Peggy, why won't you be reasonable?

If you won't marry me who will? - How much is 9 times 65?

Minus one day's lodging.

Plus 1, 2, 3, 4 juleps and two carafes.

I don't know. I don't lodge and I don't drink.

Much.

I just ask you a simple favor.

To marry me. And you sit there and count.

Rowdy. We owe Daniel Webster two dollars and twenty cents for staying here.

That can't be right. - Peggy, will you please listen to me?

So that is the reason. That is who it is.

Don't you ever dare say that again. - Well, I say it because it is true.

You've been mooning about him since your mud-pie days. What good has it done you?

He doesn't even know you are grown up. - Oh, doesn't he?

Well. I don't care whether he does or not.

He doesn't mean anything to me. Not even that.

You are trembling all over. You've made a blot right there.

Rowdy. You go home, duck your head in ice-cold water ..

And ask heaven to forgive you. - For what?

I don't see why you get so upset just because I see what anyone can see.

Will you please have some sense?

I'm the daughter of an Innkeeper.

He is the first gentleman of America.

He doesn't even know that I ..

Know what?

Nothing.

Now go on him and let me get on with my work. Go on.

Alright.

Alright.

Very well.

Here's the kitchen account, Peg.

Don't forget. General and Mrs Jackson arrive tomorrow.

I couldn't forget that.

Numbers 17 and 18 aired?

Aired, scrubbed and varnished.

Or the general would skin me alive.

Almost finished? It's late.

No. I have had a few interruptions.

Ahoy.

Venus. Two points to starboard.

Full sail ahead.

Ah, to be ashore again.

To know you've waited all these lonesome years. Unloved, uncherished, unkissed.

My faithful darling.

I promise never to leave you again.

Tomorrow. Yes. Tomorrow I shall marry you twice.

Not tomorrow.

It is wash day.

Then I shall stay out to sea and wait until you signal me.

With a freshly laundered pillow slip.

Make it two, my love.

Goodnight, Major.

Or may I call you 'father'?

Ah, yes.

Yes.